<p>This study demonstrates that the austenitization temperature of AISI 440B martensitic stainless steel crucially influences wear and corrosion resistance. As the austenitization temperature increases, Cr₂₃C₆ carbides dissolve, leading to increased Cr and C concentrations in the austenite matrix. Higher Cr content enhances corrosion resistance, while increased C content raises hardness. However, excessively high austenitization temperatures result in increased retained austenite due to lowered M_f temperatures and grain coarsening, which significantly reduces hardness. Electrochemical corrosion tests that have been done in wet wipe solution and NaCl solution have shown that a high carbon content can break the martensitic crystal lattice, destabilizing the protective oxide film and reducing corrosion resistance. This study identifies 1110&#xa0;°C as the optimal austenitization temperature for AISI 440B martensitic stainless steel, balancing both wear and corrosion resistance effectively.</p>